Thursday, September 18, 2008

Whining

As you can see from my previous post, some bad habits had crept into our family. One of the most annoying was whining! I thought I'd share the age old but new for us method that has made whining much better.

"What is this remarkable cure", you may ask. It's THE CORNER. Yes, that's right. Standing in the corner. It's the perfect place to compose yourself when you feel the urge to whine and complain. There's nothing to do there, nothing to see, just you...and your nose...in the corner.

Here's a little testimonial. Last week Josiah didn't want to eat what I made for supper. Now, I had made pizza, yes, homemade, yummy pizza, which he really, really likes. Would he eat it, no. "I don't like pizza,"he whined.

Did I loose my cool? No! Did I lay on the guilt trip about how hard I had worked and slaved over that pizza? No! Did I cajole him to take a bite to see how tasty it was? No! I simply told him to stand in the corner until he could speak to Mommy nicely and without a whine in his voice. Just two minutes of boredom in the corner did the trick. He came back and ate his yummy pizza with a smile.

Then came the inevitable question, "May I please have a lollipop."

"No," was the answer. Not what he didn't know was that we had ice cream. He instantly started whining.

"Because I want one," he pouted.

Back he went to the corner. This time Maggie, the dog, decided to go with him.

"I can't talk to you right now, Maggie. I has to stand in da corner. I has to talk nice," he cried as he moved a pile of toys that I had placed in the aforementioned corner while he finished eating.

Fortunately, little boys whose noses are in the corner can't see their parents laughter behind their backs! Hehehe.

Two minutes later a happy boy was back and got to eat his ice cream with his mommy and daddy.

We're on our third week of using the corner and all it takes now is a reminder of where whiny children go. The whine dries up almost instantly! :-)

5 comments:

Mom, Dad and I were just discussing this last week, the use of other methods of discipline... Mom and Dad had to stop using the "corner" with Kerry because she would fall asleep-(yes, standing up head against the corner) :) I was asking why use different methods if the Bible says to use the rod and reproof... and Dad said that I will learn very quickly that there are times when spanking (even if consistent) don't make the point stick so we will find what other methods work (and incorporate with the "rod and reproof)

The Corner worked very well for me. I hardly ever whine anymore. Occasionally when I complain about something I have this strong urge to go stand in the corner with out even being told. I do have my favorite corner though. The trails in the paint texture is so neat. Why, did you know that you could go all the way from the ceiling to the floor with out crossing a lump in the paint. I admire your insight and diligence in parrenting. Keep up the faith. Even when you do things right, there will be times that it seems to not be working. But it is and the rewards are great.

I told Dan to put me in the corner last night. We've started working out at the way at least 3 days a week. I am sooooo sore! I was whining and complaining last night and said, "You'd better put me in the corner!" :-)